BILL NUMBER: AB 1807	CHAPTERED  09/27/00

	CHAPTER   738
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 29, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 24, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 18, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 2, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Longville

                        JANUARY 31, 2000

   An act to amend Sections 21080.4 and 21081.7 of the Public
Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1807, Longville.  California Environmental Quality Act:
Department of Transportation.
   (1) Under the existing California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), if a lead agency determines that an environmental impact
report is required, the lead agency is immediately required to send
notice of that determination to each responsible agency, and those
public agencies having jurisdiction by law over natural resources
affected by the project.  Existing law then requires those agencies
to participate in the environmental review process, as specified.
   Under this bill, if the lead agency determines that an
environmental impact report is required, the lead agency would also
be required to send notice to the Office of Planning and Research.
   Existing law requires that transportation information resulting
from a specified reporting or monitoring program required to be
adopted by a public agency be submitted to the transportation
planning agency in the region when the project has impacts that are
of statewide, regional, or areawide significance.
   This bill would also require the submission of the transportation
information to the Department of Transportation under those
circumstances.
   By imposing new duties on local lead agencies, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
  (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 21080.4 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   21080.4.  (a) If a lead agency determines that an environmental
impact report is required for a project, the lead agency shall
immediately send notice of that determination by certified mail or an
equivalent procedure to each responsible agency, the Office of
Planning and Research, and those public agencies having jurisdiction
by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held
in trust for the people of the State of California.  Upon receipt of
the notice, each responsible agency, the office, and each public
agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by
the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of
California shall specify to the lead agency the scope and content of
the environmental information that is germane to the statutory
responsibilities of that responsible agency, the  office, or the
public agency in connection with the proposed project and which,
pursuant to the requirements of this division, shall be included in
the environmental impact report.  The information shall be specified
in writing and shall be communicated to the lead agency by certified
mail or equivalent procedure not later than 30 days after the date of
receipt of the notice of the lead agency's determination.  The lead
agency shall request similar guidance from appropriate federal
agencies.
   (b) To expedite the requirements of subdivision (a), the lead
agency, any responsible agency, the Office of Planning and Research,
or a public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources
affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the
State of California, may request one or more meetings between
representatives of those agencies and the office for the purpose of
assisting the lead agency to determine the scope and content of the
environmental information that any of those responsible agencies, the
office, or the public agencies may require.  In the case of a
project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065, the request
may also be made by the project applicant.  The meetings shall be
convened by the lead agency as soon as possible, but not later than
30 days after the date that the meeting was requested.
   (c) To expedite the requirements of subdivision (a), the Office of
Planning and Research, upon request of a lead agency, shall assist
the lead agency in determining the various responsible agencies,
public agencies having jurisdiction by law over natural resources
affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the
State of California, and any federal agencies that have
responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed project.  In
the case of a project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065,
that request may also be made by the project applicant.
   (d) With respect to the Department of Transportation, and with
respect to any state agency that is a responsible agency or a public
agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by
the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of
California, subject to the requirements of subdivision (a), the
Office of Planning and Research shall ensure that the information
required by subdivision (a) is transmitted to the lead agency, and
that affected agencies are notified regarding meetings to be held
upon request pursuant to subdivision (b), within the required time
period.
  SEC. 2.  Section 21081.7 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
   21081.7.  Transportation information resulting from the reporting
or monitoring program required to be adopted by a public agency
pursuant to Section 21081.6 shall be submitted to the transportation
planning agency in the region where the project is located and to the
Department of Transportation when the project has impacts that are
of statewide, regional, or areawide significance according to
criteria developed pursuant to Section 21083.  The transportation
planning agency and the Department of Transportation shall adopt
guidelines for the submittal of those reporting or monitoring
programs.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.
